Valley Academy for Career & Technology Education

What Valley Academy for Career & Technology Education does

Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (VACTE) is a public Career and Technical Education District (CTED) established in 2001 by citizen approval to serve high school students in Arizona's Verde Valley and Sedona corridor. VACTE is one of fourteen CTEDs operating under Arizona state law and is governed by a five-member board drawn from its member districts: Camp Verde, Clarkdale/Jerome, Cottonwood/Oak Creek, Mingus Union, and Sedona Red/Rock. The district delivers eight programs — Certified Nursing Assistant/Phlebotomy, Construction, Fire Science, Law Enforcement, Teaching Professions, Cosmetology, HVAC, and Culinary Arts — to more than 1,500 students through a Central Campus in Cottonwood, satellite high school locations, and partner facilities at Yavapai College.

The operating model is government-funded public education. Revenue derives from Arizona Department of Education allocations, member-district contributions, and tuition subsidies; VACTE pays college tuition, textbooks, and uniforms for many programs, while the only disclosed direct student charge is $850 for the two-year Cosmetology program. Teaching is delivered in person by working industry professionals — firefighters, nurses, contractors, salon owners, and a retired police officer — rather than via any proprietary technology platform. Certifications earned by students include CNA licensure, Arizona cosmetology/hairstyling licensure, NCCER, OSHA, EPA Refrigerant, Firefighter I/II, and ServSafe, alongside dual-enrollment credits from Yavapai College.

Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer: high school juniors and seniors are enrolled through academic advisors, school counselors, and charter/homeschool referrals, with applications submitted via email and phone. As a government entity, VACTE is not investable in the conventional PE/VC sense, has no outside shareholders, and is structurally tied to the five member districts and the Arizona public funding framework. Under Superintendent Bob Weir since 2016, the district has expanded from 2 to 8 programs, with the Construction Program nationally ranked top-8 in SkillsUSA for seven consecutive years.

Name

Valley Academy for Career & Technology Education

Legal name

Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education

Website

https://vacte.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VACTE is a public Career and Technical Education District in Arizona, serving 1,500+ high school students across five member school districts with eight industry-certified vocational programs including nursing, construction, fire science, law enforcement, HVAC, cosmetology, teaching, and culinary arts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Vocational training programs
• High school CTE
• Industry certification training
• Workforce skills education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottonwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member District Funding / Government Funding: VACTE is a Career and Technical Education District (CTED) established by approval of Verde Valley and Sedona area citizens. It receives funding from its five member school districts (Camp Verde, Clarkdale/Jerome, Cottonwood/Oak Creek, Mingus Union, and Sedona Red/Rock) and operates as a specialized school district under Arizona law. Revenue is derived from district allocations, Arizona Department of Education funding, and student tuition support (VACTE pays college tuition, textbooks, and uniforms for many programs).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VACTE is a public Career and Technical Education District that delivers high school vocational training programs in fields such as Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Construction, Fire Science, Law Enforcement, Cosmetology, HVAC, Culinary Arts, and Teacher Training. Programs combine hands-on classroom and clinical/worksite instruction with industry-recognized certifications (NCCER, OSHA, state board licensure) and dual-enrollment college credits through Yavapai College. Tuition, textbooks, and uniforms are largely subsidized for students from member districts.

Product overview

Valley Academy for Career & Technology Education (VACTE) is a Career and Technical Education District (CTED) offering a portfolio of eight vocational training programs for high school students in the Verde Valley and Sedona areas of Arizona. The programs include Certified Nursing Assistant & Phlebotomy, Construction, Fire Science, Law Enforcement, Teaching Professions (Teacher Training), Cosmetology, HVAC, and Culinary Arts. Programs provide industry certifications (OSHA, NCCER, state board licenses) and dual enrollment college credits through Yavapai College partnerships. Programs operate at the Central Campus in Cottonwood and at satellite high schools (Camp Verde, Mingus Union, Sedona Red Rock, Verde Tech).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Phlebotomy Programs Healthcare training programs for high school students preparing for Certified Nursing Assistant licensure through the Arizona Board of Nursing and phlebotomy technician skills. Each program is one semester long and includes CPR, OSHA, and completion certifications. Clinical experience is provided at The Haven facilities in Camp Verde, Cottonwood, and Sedona.
• Construction Program Construction trades training covering carpentry, electrical, masonry, and plumbing for high school students, with NCCER Core certification, OSHA Construction Safety certification, and IVES certifications in forklift and lift operations.
• Fire Science Program Firefighter training for high school students delivering Arizona Center of Firefighter Excellence certifications (Firefighter I/II, Hazardous Materials Operations), FEMA ICS certifications, and NIMS Wildland Fire certifications.
• Law Enforcement Program Law enforcement and public safety training for high school students covering ASP Defense Tactics, APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator certification preparation, crime scene investigation skills, and approximately 18 college credit hours toward Criminal Justice. Includes 911 internship with Cottonwood Police Department.
• Teaching Professions / Teacher Training Program Four-year educator preparation pathway (Teacher Training I-IV) with dual enrollment credits from Yavapai College (9-12 credits), paraprofessional certification, fingerprint clearance cards, and pathway to Associate of Arts in Elementary Education.
• Cosmetology Program Two-year hairstyling program for high school students preparing for Arizona Board of Cosmetology & Barber 1000-Hour Hairstyling Certification, covering hair structure, chemical texturizing, hair color, and styling techniques. Student fee of $850 covers both years.
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) Program Two-year HVAC technician training for high school students at Yavapai College Clarkdale Campus, with up to 24 college credits, EPA Refrigerant Certification preparation, and OSHA-10 certification. Schedule Tuesday-Thursday, 1:30 PM-3:45 PM plus online coursework.
• Culinary Arts Program Culinary arts training for high school students with ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification and Yavapai College Culinary Arts Fundamentals Certificate (16 credits), covering kitchen safety, nutrition, and food preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 CTE students supported across member districts and satellite programs
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Yavapai CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001VACTE has a strong partnership with Yavapai College for dual and concurrent enrollment. High school students earn both high school and college credits for enrolled courses. VACTE pays for college tuition, textbooks, and uniforms for many programs. Yavapai College provides campus locations for Phlebotomy and HVAC programs, and progression plans exist for Construction, Culinary Arts, Fire Service, Phlebotomy, and Teacher Training pathways.
• Cottonwood Police Department and DispatchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA strong partnership with Cottonwood Police Department and Dispatch provides opportunities for senior Law Enforcement students to participate in a 911 Internship Program and experience the day in the life of a law enforcement officer through a ride-a-long program.
• The Haven (Camp Verde, Cottonwood, and Sedona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Haven provides clinical experience sites for VACTE CNA students. Students complete real-world patient care training through clinicals at The Haven's locations in Camp Verde, Cottonwood, and Sedona.
• Camp Verde Unified School DistrictcoreOthersMember school district of VACTE CTE District 1. Contributes to district governance through a board member (Ed Mezulis, Clerk) and provides student enrollment to VACTE programs.
• Clarkdale Jerome School DistrictcoreOthersMember school district of VACTE CTE District 1. Contributes to district governance through a board member (Kathleen Fleenor, Member) and provides student enrollment to VACTE programs.
• Cottonwood Oak Creek School DistrictcoreOthersMember school district of VACTE CTE District 1. Contributes to district governance through a board member (Jill Myers, Member) and provides student enrollment to VACTE programs.
• Mingus Union High SchoolcoreOthersMember school district of VACTE CTE District 1. Contributes to district governance through a board member (Dave Leckington, Member) and provides student enrollment to VACTE programs.
• Sedona Red Rock School DistrictcoreOthersMember school district of VACTE CTE District 1. Contributes to district governance through a board member (Jeff Wassell, Chairman) representing Sedona Oak Creek School District and provides student enrollment to VACTE programs.
• Salt River Materials Group – Phoenix Cement CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen-level sponsor of VACTE. Provides financial or in-kind sponsorship support to the district's programs and operations.
• Credit Union WestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen-level sponsor of VACTE. Listed as a proud member/sponsor with the Greater Verde Valley business community.
• Kirkwood Builders of ArizonaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of VACTE. Local contractor providing sponsorship support to the district's construction and career training programs.
• Noah's Ark RoofingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhite-level sponsor of VACTE. Local roofing company providing sponsorship support.
• Tierra Verde BuildersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhite-level sponsor of VACTE. Local building contractor providing sponsorship support.
• Page Springs ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of VACTE. Local electrical services company providing sponsorship support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Educational Services: Multi-campus career college offering skilled trades, automotive, healthcare, and culinary programs with industry certifications. Comparable as a CTE operator with a similar program-by-program credentialing model.
• ECPI University: Career-focused institution offering technology, healthcare, and skilled-trades programs with industry certifications. Comparable as a multi-state CTE provider with a similar time-to-credential orientation.
• Perdoceo Education Corporation: Holds American InterContinental University and Colorado Technical University, both of which offer career-focused and technical programs. Comparable as a publicly traded career education platform, though oriented to degree pathways.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): Nationwide for-profit provider of career and technical education in skilled trades, transportation, and healthcare. Comparable as a scaled CTE operator with industry-aligned certifications, though broader and primarily post-secondary.

Others

• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit student organization that frames the competitive context in which VACTE's Construction Program has ranked top 8 nationally for 7 years. Comparable as the ecosystem and talent-pipeline connector across CTE programs nationally.
• Yavapai College: VACTE's primary dual-enrollment partner and host campus for HVAC and Phlebotomy programs. Comparable as a regional community college offering CTE pathways that complement high-school CTE programs in the same service area.

Regional players

• Central Arizona College – CTE Programs: Arizona community college delivering CTE credentials in trades, healthcare, and public safety. Comparable as a regional Arizona post-secondary CTE provider overlapping with some VACTE program verticals.
• Pima Medical Institute: Arizona-based private career college focused on healthcare and veterinary training. Comparable as a regional vocational education provider offering certifications closely aligned with several VACTE programs (CNA, Phlebotomy, Medical Assistant).
• East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT): Arizona CTED serving high school students across multiple member districts in the East Valley with programs in healthcare, construction, cosmetology, fire science, and law enforcement. The closest structural analog to VACTE within Arizona's CTED system.
• Arizona Western College – Career & Technical Education: Arizona community college providing CTE credentials in trades, healthcare, and public safety. Comparable as a regional Arizona CTE pathway provider with similar program verticals to VACTE.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vacte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vacte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Valley Academy for Career & Technology Education